Is the US number 1 in obesity?
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Global Obesity Levels.
Global Rank | Country | % of Adult Population That Is Obese |
---|---|---|
1 | Nauru | 61.0% |
2 | Cook Islands | 55.9% |
3 | Palau | 55.3% |
4 | Marshall Islands | 52.9% |
More than 1 billion people worldwide are obese – 650 million adults, 340 million adolescents and 39 million children.
What are the current rates of obesity in adults? The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that about 40% of adults in the United States are obese.
The World Obesity Atlas 2022, published by the World Obesity Federation, predicts that one billion people globally, including 1 in 5 women and 1 in 7 men, will be living with obesity by 2030.
The most obese country by percentage of obese adults is Nauru, with 61% of adults falling in the obese category. Cook Islands fllows with 55.9%, and Palau just under that at 55.3%. Three other countries have adult populations that are over 50% obese: the Marshall Islands (52.9%), Tuvalu (51.6%), and Niue (50%).
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Did you know?
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As for what is driving America's chronic weight problem, there are no definite answers. Scientific studies often reach conflicting conclusions, meaning many theories are out there, but the preponderance of evidence points to the two causes most people already suspect: too much food and too little exercise.
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Adult BMI Calculator.
BMI | Weight Status |
---|---|
Below 18.5 | Underweight |
18.5—24.9 | Healthy Weight |
25.0—29.9 | Overweight |
30.0 and Above | Obesity |
While being overweight is a precursor to obesity and, like obesity, can increase the risk of diabetes, heart attack and stroke, it's also possible to be overweight and still healthy, especially if you're free from chronic diseases like hypertension or diabetes.
According to the National Institutes of Health, obesity and overweight together are the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States, close behind tobacco use (3). An estimated 300,000 deaths per year are due to the obesity epidemic (57).
Is Europe more obese than America?
The WHO said Europe has higher obesity rates than every other region except the Americas.
The ideal reference range is a BMI between 18.5-25, with a BMI above 25 being considered overweight. This range applies to both women and men.

Obesity affects some groups more than others
The obesity prevalence was 39.8% among adults aged 20 to 39 years, 44.3% among adults aged 40 to 59 years, and 41.5% among adults aged 60 and older.
Worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975.
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Mexico passed the United States as the most obese country in the world. The prevalence of overweight and obesity is 16.7% in preschool children, 26.2% in school children, and 30.9% in adolescents. For adults, the prevalence of overweight and obesity is 39.7 and 29.9%, respectively.
Since 2006, genome-wide association studies have found more than 50 genes associated with obesity, most with very small effects. Several of these genes also have variants that are associated with monogenic obesity, a phenomenon that has been observed in many other common conditions.
Most Obese Countries by Percentage:
Palau- 47.60% Nauru- 45.60% Samoa- 43.40% Tonga- 43.30%
What is the World's Skinniest Country? Vietnam is the country with lowest rate of obesity. According to the World Health Organization, just 2.1% of adults in Vietnam have a BMI above 30.
Obesity is second only to cigarette smoking as a leading preventable death in the U.S. Nearly one in five deaths of African Americans and Caucasians age 40 to 85 is attributed to obesity, a rate that is increasing across generations.
Is America the most obese country 2022?
Saudi Arabia – 34.70% United States of America – 33.70% Libya – 33.10%
Fast Facts. Nearly 1 in 3 adults (30.7%) are overweight. More than 2 in 5 adults (42.4%) have obesity.